In a letter to the union minister, Patnaik said that there is not a single train service directly connecting Berhampur and Surat although more than 7 lakh people of South Odisha especially from Ganjam district are residing there and have various travelling needs.

A sizeable population of Odia workers currently engaged in power loom, dyeing and printing, diamond cutting and other spheres of trades and commerce in Surat Economic Cluster are depending on Puri-Ahmedabad Express (running four days a week), Puri-Okha Express (running once a week), Puri-Gandhidham (running once a week) for their travelling.

“But as these groups of trains are originating and terminating at further stations, availability of accommodation at Surat and Berhampur is highly inadequate,” the letter read.

The CM had stated that lakhs of Odias who have settled and are engaged in Surat face a lot of difficulties while travelling and had requested for a direct air travel between both the cities to facilitate better connectivity and boost tourism.